Cleft lip: a potential side effect of the popular drug Topamax

Anyone who has experienced a severe migraine headache understands how painful and disruptive they can be. Topamax, a widely heralded consumer drug, is among the industry leaders in fighting off the detrimental effects of migraines. With the use of Topamax, there also may be further danger for women who used the drug during pregnancy. Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects which have been linked to the use of the pharmaceutical drug during pregnancy.

Symptoms during Migraines Can Last up to 72 Hours!

Pregnant women should be cautious about the use of Topamax during pregnancy even though the drug has a strong success rate in treating migraines. The harsh symptoms of migraines can last for extended periods of time and women should understand the potential effects. Headaches bring with them throbbing pain which makes it extremely difficult to function never mind complete regular daily activities. Nausea and vomiting are also common experiences of people during a migraine and can make for extreme discomfort and additional pain. Finally, strong sensitivity to sounds and light generally accompany migraine headaches which makes it very difficult to move. Many people choose to remain in dark and quiet rooms during these extreme headaches in an effort to reduce the persistence of discomfort. Over ninety percent of patients experiencing migraines reported functional impairment. This statistic shows that when a migraine strikes, it may be very difficult to carry on with activities normally. Although migraines can be agonizing and traumatic, women should carefully choose medication during pregnancy to avoid potential dangers, such as cleft lip, to their baby.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was born with cleft lip or other similar birth defects, it is possible that you have questions regarding your use of Topamax during pregnancy. Please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse Exposé: Burlington Woods

Today we once again expose a New Jersey nursing home with a below average rating according to Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare. This website compares and rates nursing homes across the country and, as New Jersey and Philadelphia attorneys with expertise on nursing home abuse and neglect cases, we find this website an important resource. Today we will discuss a nursing home in Burlington County that has been given a 2 out of 5 star rating by the official Medicare website.

Burlington Woods: Not the First Time We’ve Written About Them

nj and pa nursing home abuse attorneys Burlington Woods is a nursing home with 227 long term beds. It is also a for profit, corporately owned and run nursing home. According to the New Jersey Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing, Burlington Woods was routinely inspected on two separate occasions between December 2008 and November 2010. During those inspections, Burlington Woods was cited for 12 separate deficiencies. It was found that the facility failed to make sure the nursing home was free of dangers that cause accidents. Burlington Woods also failed to keep the rate of medication errors to less than 5%. Additionally, it was determined that Burlington Woods failed to write and use policies that forbid mistreatment, neglect, abuse , and theft.

Burlington Woods was also inspected 9 additional times, based on complaints. This led to another four citations. These inspection results are a part of why this nursing home received an overall below average rating by Medicare. Again, these types of issues are those that can lead to abuse and neglect in a nursing home. The fact that there wasn’t a policy in place regarding how the patients should be treated to stave off abuse and neglect is, itself, very disconcerting. This is the type of nursing home that may lead to injuries and health issues such as overdoses, malnutrition, and bed sores. We urge all individuals to carefully review any nursing home before placement in order to assure a safe environment for their loved one.

Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is a resident at a nursing home or long term care facility, and you fear the care they are receiving is inadequate or borderline abusive, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. The nursing home abuse attorneys at the Mininno Law Office are dedicated to helping families protect their loved ones from the sometimes totally egregious conduct of long term care facilities.

DePuy Hip Implants RECALLED

new jersey philadelphia defective products attorneys depuy hip replacements implants DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, has recently recalled it’s line of ASR hip implant systems used in hip replacement surgeries.
It seems the implants are defective products, malfunctioning in a few different ways.

Sometimes, the DePuy Hip Replacements are loosening, meaning that the implant is no longer attached to the bone in the right position. In other instances, the implants are dislocating, and the two parts of the system that move together are no longer aligned.
Metal particles are wearing off of the ball socket components of the implants that rub together, and, over time, can cause fluid build-up in the muscles surrounding the joint. These metal particles could potentially cause significant harm the muscles, bones, and nerves around the hip.

Have you Recently Undergone Hip Replacement Surgery?

If you have recently received a hip implant, and find that you are suffering through pain that exceeds the expected recovery period, you may have received a defective implant from DePuy Orthopaedics.
Contact your orthopaedic surgeon to find out who manufactured your implant, and then contact a defective products attorney at the Mininno Law Office: we will work hard to fight for you, and earn you the compensation you deserve.

Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Elder Abuse Takes the Form of Fraud and Theft

new jersey philadelphia elder abuse attorneys nursing home neglect lawyers theft fraud Typically, nursing home abuse is thought to be of a physical nature. Residents are left unturned in their beds, growing bedsores; they are manhandled and dropped out of wheelchairs or lifts; or they are over medicated to remain sedated. But often times, elder abuse takes the form of theft or fraud.

In one such elder abuse case, a 36 year old social worker, working with several elderly patients, did great harm to the bank account of an 89 year old woman. In ten months, that social worker stole upwards of $25,000 dollars from the woman. After that “tap ran dry,” she took another $9,000 from a different patient she had been seeing. Authorities claim the money was used for personal purchases; clothing, groceries, and the like.

In other related elder abuse cases, the same social worker was fraudulently cashing checks she had written to herself from a patient’s checkbook. She was also using the victim’s debit card. What happened when the checks ran out? She lied to the bank to obtain more, and continued to write them to herself.

Elder Abuse Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

The social worker is currently being prosecuted, but it truly is ashame that she was able to go on committing these crimes for so long. It is imperative that we keep our eyes open to this kind of elder abuse, or else offenders will not be punished, and care will never improve.
If you or an elderly loved one have been abused in a nursing home or long term care facility, please contact the Mininno Law Office. Our NJ and PA elder abuse attorneys are here to answer all of your questions and help you present the best possible case.

No one should have to endure the kind of negligence and abuse that goes on in some of our nation’s nursing homes. Help bring an end to these trends of deplorable treatment, and call an NJ or PA elder abuse attorney today. Free consultations at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey and (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Are all DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Implants Defective?

Recently, we have been asked if ALL DePuy hip implants are defective. Currently, there is no real answer because it is simply too soon to interperet the data on these defective DePuy hip implants.

new jersey philadelphia depuy orthopaedics lawyers implants recalled What is known is that the recall affects the ASR XL Acetabular System, which is used for total hip replacements, as well as the ASR Hip Resurfacing System, which is used in a newer kind of procedure involving bone conservation.
The ASR Hip Resurfacing System has not yet been approved in the United States, but according to Johnson & Johnson, some patients may have gotten these implants through a clinical trial when the company was seeking FDA approval for the hip implants.

Therefore, one of the first things a patient needs to determine is whether or not they have a total DePuy Orthopaedics hip replacement system, or the DePuy ASR hip resurfacing system. A combined total of about 93,000 of the total hip replacement system devices have been implanted worldwide. Presently, the data shows that only 1 in about 8 of these hip replacements have caused patients symptoms, and have required correction.
However, since the symptoms of a defective hip implant may mimic other symptoms, many patients do not yet know whether or not their implant is defective. Many patients are insisting that they get corrective surgery now, before these defective implants cause signs and symptoms, to prevent future problems such as microscopic metal particles in the bloodstream.

So, while the data does not suggest that all DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Implants are defective, it simply is too soon to come to a final conclusion about the number of patients who will have symptoms related to these defective implants.

NJ and PA DePuy Orthopaedics Defective Hip Implant Attorneys

If you have any concerns regarding a DePuy Orthopaedics implant, you should contact your orthopaedic surgeon or family doctor.
If you want to know what your rights are regarding these recalled hip implants, contact the Mininno Law Office. Our NJ and PA DePuy Hip Implant Recall Lawyers are prepared to answer your questions and earn you any and all compensation that you deserve. You may call the Mininno Law Office for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

DePuy Hip Replacement Recall: Is a New Hip Worth the Risk?

depuy orthopaedics Recall Attorneys hip implant replacement New Jersey Philadelphia With the recent news about the DePuy Orthopaedics hip replacement recalls, many people are asking, “Is a hip replacement worth the risk?” Each year there are nearly ¼ of a million hip replacement surgeries performed. Many hospitals and surgeons boast of how simple, safe, and effective hip replacement surgeries are. Afterall, a hip replacement surgery only takes about 1-3 hours and, many times, patients are up and about and returning to work as early as one week after surgery.

However, the decision to have a hip replacement should be one that is made only as a last resort.

When is it Time for a Hip Replacement?

Prior to a hip replacement, you should get at lease 2 opinions from 2 different orthopaedists who have reviewed your x-rays, performed physical examinations to evaluate your condition, and who know how your hip problems are interfering with your activities or quality of life. Mild pain or symptoms that make things a little more difficult should not be sufficient reasons to schedule a hip replacement surgery. For most patients, a hip replacement surgery should only be considered if they have been having signifcant pain for at least 4 years before their surgery.
In additon, the hip should be replaced only if there is severe joint stiffness after exertion, and a significant reduction of the range of motion in the hip joint. Hip replacement surgery is major surgery which carries with it all of the risks associated with surgery (e.g., infection, surgical errors, worsening of the condition, hardware failure, anesthesia risks, and even wrongful death).

Not only that, but you will forever set off the metal detectors at airport security screenings!

If those risks and consequences were not enough, the recent recall of DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Implants should give all potential hip replacement patients reason to think twice before agreeing to this procedure.

DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Implant Recall Attorneys

At the Mininno Law Office, we work to gain recoveries for those who have been wronged. If you are the recipient of a DePuy Hip Implant, you may be eligable for compensation. If you have recently undergone a hip replacement, contact your orthopaedic surgeon immediately to find out if your implant was manufactured by DePuy Orthopaedics.
If so, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Defective DePuy Hip Implants: Signs and Symptoms

DePuy Orthopaedics has recently recalled it’s defective ASR Hip Implant System, however, not every DePuy hip implant has failed. If you are a recipient of the DePuy hip replacement, you should look for any of the following signs and symptoms:

Hip Pain (with or without activity) – All patients who have had hip replacement surgery will experience some pain at first. However, the symptoms are supposed to improve and, eventually, go away. If your symptoms have gone away and have now returned, or never did go away at all, it may be a sign of a defective hip implant.
Hip Swelling – Swelling is normal in the immediate post operative period following a hip replacement. However, if you have a new onset of hip swelling following a DePuy hip implant, this may be another sign that the metal components are wearing out and causing the swelling.
Problems Walking – Finally, some patients who have been discovered to have received defective hip replacements complain of problems walking. This problem is usually caused by the body’s reactions to the metallic particles which have worn away from the DePuy hip implant. This may be one of the most serious signs or symptoms, because this could mean that the metal particles have caused damage to the muscles, tissue, bones, and nerves surrounding the hip joint.

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Depuy Recall Attorneys at the Mininno Law Office

If you are experiencing any of the above signs or symptoms, please contact the Mininno Law Office for more information and a free case evaluation.
In fact, even if you have not yet experienced the symptoms and want more information about what you should do if you have a DePuy hip replacement, call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey and (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Defective Product Sales Cost GlaxoSmithKline $750 Million

new jersey philadelphia defective products attorneys glaxosmithkline medicines tagamet avandia corteg An article published by the New York Times speaks of the $750 million settlement the British drug company GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to pay to end a number of civil and criminal complaints regarding knowingly defective medicines they put on store shelves for years. Such defective products include contaminated diaper cream, and an inaffective antidepressant. Twenty other medicines were sold with “questionable safety,” including the diabetes drug Avandia, the heart drug Corteg, and the acid reflux drug Tagamet.

The article goes on to say:

“[New lawsuits] have asserted that drug makers misled patients and defrauded federal and state governments that, through Medicare and Medicaid, pay for much of health care. Using claims from industry insiders, federal prosecutors are not only demanding record fines but are hinting at more severe actions”

Fortunately, no patients were known to be sickened by the defective medicines, however, that does not mean that none were. The cases would be very difficult to trace. Glaxo’s offenses were exposed when former quality assurance manager Cheryl Eckerd came forward with knowledge of the company’s wrongdoings. Thanks to laws that encourage this “whistleblowing,” Eckerd could receive as much as $96 million dollars from the federal portion of the settlement.

NJ and PA Defective Products Attorneys

Glaxo wronged millions upon millions of consumers by knowingly putting defective and potentially dangerous products on the market. Unfortunately, they are not the only company to indulge in this kind of business practice.
If you or a loved one have been affected by a defective product of any kind, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Our New Jersey and Pennsylvania defective product attorneys are prepared to work for you and get you the compensation you are owed.

New Regulations May Help Avert Nursing Home Abuse

United Press International recently reported that six states will be receiving government funding for programs they are to develop that will require criminal background checks for any applicant to a nursing home or long term care facility within the state.

National Background Check Program

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse attorneys new regulations may help averting The money will be distributed under the guidelines of the Affordable Care Act, and the National Background Check Program will begin in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Missouri, and Rhode Island. Eleven additional states may be added to the program as early as November of this year.
The U.S. Government will spend 160 million dollars to administer mandatory criminal background checks in all 50 states.

These mandatory background checks will serve as a major weapon in the fight against nursing home abuse. Many times, employees at these facilities have histories of abusive behavior, theft, and fraud, multiple convictions of elder and nursing home abuse.
We should not have to entrust the care of our elderly loved ones to those who are soley interested in conning them out of their money, or who are not at all invested in the care they provide.

NJ and PA Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

If your loved one has suffered at the hands of an abusive and negligent nursing home staff, do not remain quiet. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Our nursing home abuse attorneys are experienced in earning recoveries for victims of negligence and abuse in nursing homes and long term care facilities.

$9 million Awarded to Victim of Medical Malpractice

A California jury awarded Maria Theresa Sanchez $9 million when her physicians comitted medical malpractice and negligence by failing to diagnose her brain infection, causing permanent brain damage.

Maria’s Past Medical History

As a child, Maria Theresa Sanchez was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, or “water on the brain.” The disorder involves an abnormal build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain. A shunt was installed within her head to drain the excess fluid and relieve any intracranial pressure caused by the condition.

Negligent Doctors fail to Diagnose Infection

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys negligence maria theresa sanchez brain infection In 2003, Maria (37) walked into the emergency room at Downey Regional Medical Center in California with complaints of severe headaches and vomiting. Maria was sent home with Tylenol. A few days later, after her symptoms worsened, Maria returned the ER, where doctors determined that it would be necessary to check her for a shunt related brain infection. She was transferred to Lakewood Regional Hospital, but her treating physician did not include any of Sanchez’s within her report, and the consulting neurologist at Lakewood failed to look at any of her records. He also didn’t test for the infection she was sent to Lakewood to be tested for. Sanchez’s condition worsed and she was finally admitted to the Lakewood ER after she fell out of her wheelchair.

The infected shunt was finally removed from Sanchez, but she had already sustained moderate brain damage. Today, Sanchez is partially paralyzed, cannot walk, has slurred speech, cannot eat unassisted, and continues to experience pain.

The care Maria Sanchez received was negligent and irresponsible. It is basic protocol to check previous medical history before treating a patient. Had the neurologist looked at Maria’s records, he would have known she had a shunt in her brain, and would have immediately tested for infection, saving Maria from the permanent brain damage she suffered.

NJ and PA Medical Malpractice Attorneys

If you or a loved on have suffered at the hands of a negligent doctor or hospital, please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Our medical malpractice attorneys are willing and eager to help you receive the compensation you need and deserve.